Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: The Graphic Novel by Chris Grabenstein, Douglas Holgate
Published by Random House Graphic on November 7, 2023
ISBN: 0593484851
Pages: 249
Genres: Adventure
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

A graphic novel adaptation of the wildly popular prose series. This book mostly follows the original storyline with direct text from the novel. For those kids who prefer and delight in a visualization of a story, this one may disappoint. Though the illustrations are rendered by Douglas Holgate of the Last Kids on Earth series, they are far too cartoonish for the depth, nuance, and detail that the original source material requires. Many of the illustrations are blown up, showing close-up faces; this was jarring and didn’t allow for the characters to move in the space of Lemoncello’s extraordinary library. And Luigi Lemoncello himself had no panache or dignity instead coming off as a cartoon character similar to the 70s PSA cartoon Timer who “hankered for a hunk o’ cheese.”  It never felt like the library was a character in the GN the way it did in the book.

Readers love graphic novels and if this edition draws in new readers who might not read a lengthy prose series, or if it inspires readers to check out the original Grabenstein books, then it is a success. But as a whole, it is a disappointing endeavor that does not enhance anything that readers of the original material might love.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School